The title of Paris SG was celebrated without effusion, and tensions between players, Lyon ultras and players, the chaos at match’s end, which sends the Greens into Ligue 2, completes a tumultuous exercise. There have been recurrent clashes that forced authorities to increase disciplinary sanctions.
First day, first incidents at Montpellier. The Marseillais Valentin Ranier was hit in his head by a glass while celebrating a goal with the team. The match ends after about ten minutes of hesitation.
On August 22, a new threshold was reached with clashes among Rennes and Nantes fans around the stadium during Breton derby and, above all, a Nice-Marseille Mediterranean demby that turned into chaos. Dimitri Payet, who is leading 1-0 with the Gym, is struck in the back by the plastic water bottle. The Marseillais returns the projectile to Nice’s grandstand, where some ultras invade the lawn. This causes a fight between Marseille supporters and players. The meeting is stopped after more than an hour-and-a half of interruptions. OGC Nice is ordered by the Disciplinary Committee to withdraw two points (one of them being suspended), as well as its total closed session for three matches. Behind closed doors, the match will be replayed in Troyes on October 27, (1-1).
Halftime of the North derby between Lens & Lille sees dozens of Lensois supporters storm the field to confront the Lille parking lot. Six people were lightly hurt in the scuffles. Each club is given a one-point suspension.
A coach belonging to Bordeaux was attacked by some Montpellier supporters before the Bordeaux-Montpellier meeting. 16 minor injuries were caused by the brawl. After the match against Marseille (0-0), several Marseille supporters gathered in Angers and damaged equipment. The stewards then restored order.
Saint-Etienne and Angers met an hour late. Saint-Etienne’s ultras were unhappy about the poor sporting performance and entered the meeting lawn. They sent smoke bombs and rockets to the goal nets and caused damage that had to be repaired quickly.
In the fourth minute of play, the Lyon-Marseille shock was broken. Dimitri Payet, Marseille captain was struck in the face with a bottle water from the stands. The match was stopped after two hours of delay. Lyon were penalized one point in standings, and the match was replayed behind closed-doors (1-0 for OL). The bottle-throwing auteur was sentenced to a six month suspended prison term.
After smoke bombs were thrown in the vicinity of the Lyon parking lot, the Coupe de France round 32 between Paris FC (L2) & OL was stopped at the Charlety stadium. To escape the incident scene, spectators from an adjacent stand climbed onto the lawn. The match was stopped approximately an hour later. The Coupe de France is over for the French Federation.
Around 200 Bordeaux fans gathered at the Matmut Atlantique Stadium’s exit to express their dissatisfaction with another defeat. They blocked the players from exiting the stadium and got the chance to meet them. The face-toface meeting lasted approximately fifteen minutes, before the crowd dispersed peacefully.
After an attempted intruder spectators, the meeting between Brest & Nantes is interrupted for ten minute, with a backdrop of tensions among ultras.
The ceremony of awarding the title of champion is often accompanied by celebrations and communion at the stadium… but this time, Paris raised their tenth trophy in a very quiet atmosphere. They chose to celebrate outside Parc des Princes because they were angry at Paris’s sports policy and repeated European failures. The Lyon victory against Montpellier of 5-2 is overshadowed in Lyon by the row between the Lyon ultras, striker Karl Toko Ekambi and the striker, who are accused in their eyes, of asking them to be quiet. Saint-Etienne’s match against Monaco (a 4-1 loss) was disrupted by fireworks and smoke bombs used by ultras to mark the Green Angels 30th anniversary. It was a funny birthday that left the evening with a bitter taste.
After the final winning goal on goal, which brought Auxerre back down to L1 (1-1/1-1 and 5-4 tab), incidents ended the match. They also plunged Saint-Etienne back down to L2. After the decision was made, the Greens were attacked by supporters who hurled smoke bombs at players and benches. The stadium was filled with confusion and panic, as players fled to the locker rooms. The Real Madrid-Liverpool Champions League final at Stade de France was postponed by 36 minutes because of organizational issues. It was a sad end for French football.
